Spicy, tangy sauce, blue cheese crumbles, crunch celery all included in a classic recipe gone vegetarian: Buffalo Cauliflower. Guess what? You won’t miss the meat!
I have always love Buffalo Chicken Wings. To me they are the most perfect combination of spicy, tangy, succulent food there is. I have loved blue cheese dressing since I was a child so the fact that is a standard dipping sauce proves it is a divine recipe. Add some fresh-flavored celery for a nice crunch and perfection has been reached. I love them so much I developed a Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Lasagna recipe to enjoy it in a different from (which has been wildly popular I will add).
This past weekend was full of football play-off games in my household. Socked in with dreary weather and kids loaded up with homework, the countdown to the big game was evident. Though I’ll watch a football game, I’m distractable and unless something fantastically interesting is going on, I generally mentally drift, this time thinking about food for the Super Bowl.
I have been making a concerted effort to think about adding vegetables into my family’s eating regimen and not as an afterthought trailing the decision of what protein to serve for dinner. Periodically I’m sent cookbook copies for review from publishing houses. I have a stack next to my desk which I’ll thumb through to share with you or to test in my own kitchen. “Meat on the Side” (Delicious Vegetable Focused Recipes for Every Day) by Nikki Dinki caught my attention, feeling like the manual for my New Year’s resolution on the vegetable front.
Buffalo Cauliflower – “Meat On The Side” by Nikki Dinki. Photo credit: St. Martin’s Press.
Meat on the Side (St. Martin’s Press) features over 100 recipes from an author who did not eat her first vegetable until she was 20 due to being a picky eater. To me the book speaks to people LIKE me; those of us who want to incorporate vegetables into our meal planning in a more interesting way. I don’t want to give up meat but I want to get out of a vegetable rut AND to feature vegetables as the main dish of a meal (like with Butternut Squash Noodles in Sage Brown Butter or Paneer Tikka Masala) and not miss meat from time to time.
I spent some time flipping through the pages, reading the ‘family friendly’ notations on the recipes, admiring the breadth of recipe categories and then landed on the mother lode: Buffalo Cauliflower. Cue the angels singing on high. I knew this was a recipe I had to make.
As with my first paragraph wings description, this Buffalo Cauliflower recipe has everything we love; spicy, tangy sauce, blue cheese, crunchy celery and beautifully roasted cauliflower which as a fantastic, substantial bite.
I loved every bite of this recipe AND having a perfect option to serve for gatherings or football food that is a meat-free option. And a recipe where the meat is not missed!
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Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
I can’t wait to try this! Cauliflower is a great healthy snack, and making it buffalo flavored makes it a great game day snack, too.
Toni Dash says
I completely agree Stacie! It’s a great option to go along with other favorite football food.
Jen Rattie says
That is so great! Cauliflower and buffalo sauce are both favorite game day flavors in my house, if not usually together. I am definitely going to give this a try.
Toni Dash says
I also would not have thought to put them together before seeing this recipe. It’s a winning combination and another fun way to get more vegetables into the football food rotation!
Jennifer says
Now this I will have to try! I would have never thought to make this kind of thing out of cauliflower. Now my husband and kids are going to have to try this with me. Thanks for sharing!
Dawn McAlexander says
I have heard that cauliflower is becoming a big thing for people these days. I didn’t realize just how versatile it was. I need to try some of these recipes.
Toni Dash says
Really? I had not heard that but can say this is an awesome version of ‘buffalo’ that doesn’t skim on flavor!
Jeanette says
OHHHH I want this! It looks great! Its healthy and has great flavor! I really want to try this! I can’t wait!
Beth Baumgartner says
Super creative use to jazz up cauliflower while still enjoying a classic comfort food dish!
Toni Dash says
Glad you like it Beth!
Jonna says
I always love finding new recipes to incorporate more veggies into our diet. this one looks delicious!
Toni Dash says
I’m on a quest Jonna! I want more veggies and good tasting recipes to go with them!
Diana Rambles says
This looks fantastic. I will have to double the recipe because I know my guys will chow down on this.
Pam Wattenbarger says
I am seeing so many cauliflower recipes lately. I used to not like cauliflower but it turns out I just don’t like poorly prepared cauliflower.
Toni Dash says
Pam cauliflower is one of those vegetables that I did not like for the longest time when it was cooked. I fault poor cooking methods as you said. I love this roasted cauliflower and who can beat the ingredients for hot wings on top?!
Crystal says
This is going to be so great for tailgating. We love a lot of flavor, but not having to fill up with junk is a good thing.
Toni Dash says
It’s perfect for that!
Tatanisha Worthey says
I made some baked cauliflower the other day and I’m a changed woman. I’m amazing at how similar to potato it tastes! Can’t wait to try these buffalo style ones!
Toni Dash says
Yes!! Me too. I was very pleasantly surprised at the flavor.
Marcie W. says
I would never think to pair the two, but this seems like an ideal snack or side dish. I’m sure my hot sauce loving kids would enjoy this as well.
Louise Bishop says
Oh my goodness, I would replace my french fries or potato skins with these on game day! Never thought to try buffalo style before!
Amy Desrosiers says
Our family loves buffalo chicken wings so much! I think this would be a much healthier substitute without sacrificing flavor!
Ann Bacciaglia says
I am so excited to try this recipe. I have been looking for healthier snacking options. I will have to get the ingredients I need to make some this weekend.
Melissa says
We just added this veggie into our rotation and my kids were fast fans! But your SPICY, TANGY BUFFALO CAULIFLOWER takes this vegetable to new heights and as a vegetarian I can’t thank you enough for sharing this quintessential game day recipe!
Oriana @Mommy's Home Cooking says
These look AMAZING! Thanks for the recipe. Always looking for new ways to cook cauliflower.
Brianne says
This dish looks so delicious and its so healthy! I am definitely trying this recipe!
Kathy says
This looks amazing! Cauliflower is one of my favorite veggies too. I can’t wait to try this out. I’ve always wanted a recipe like this with cauliflower. I’m sure it’s going to taste great too.
Aimee Smith says
These look so good! I love this option.
Seattle Travel Blogger says
This looks terrific. I am definitely sharing this one with my dad; he likes spicy stuff and also has been trying to lean away from the breads. He also has done some things with cauliflower already, like mash it into looking like mashed potatoes.
Jeanine says
I’ve never had cauliflower before. The texture and look of it has always turned me off but I’ve been exploring and trying new things with food, so this looks like it would be a great way to try cauliflower for the first time!
Toni Dash says
Ironically, in my opinion, cauliflower is one of the more mild tasting vegetables. Certainly if you add it into this recipe, you wouldn’t even guess there is a vegetable in there!
Janell Poulette says
You had me at buffalo! I have never had cauliflower but this makes me want to try it now! My kids love anything spicy so maybe this will help them like cauliflower as well as myself.
Toni Dash says
You are the second person who said they have never had cauliflower Janell! Now is the time! I’m a ‘buffalo’ lover too and this recipe does not disappoint.
Maureen says
I would so eat this right up, I love spicy food and cauliflower is one of my faves. I most certainly will have to try to make this sometime. Delicious.
Tara says
I need to try these. I love cauliflower bites and the buffalo flavor. I could snack on these all day.
Kristi says
I’m not a huge fan of spice but my husband and daughter are. I would just have lots of ranch sauce on hand for me to dip em in. Yum!
Toni Dash says
That’s not so bad, lots of Ranch dressing on the ready (I love Ranch dressing).
Rosey says
I have had this before, it’s so good!! I didn’t think I’d like it but i was completely wrong.
Toni Dash says
Have you? I wasn’t totally sure before I tried it as I don’t love cooked cauliflower (which I’ve learned is really boiled cauliflower) but I too love this.
Lane & Holly @ With Two Spoons says
I love, love, love Nikki Dinki’s book. And I love, love, love this recipe!!
Megan @ MegUnprocessed says
What a great snack alternative! So healthy and look delicious!
Sarah Bailey says
I have always wanted to give this a try! Now I must. This looks delicious.
Susan Salzman says
my whole family would eat this! thank you!!